Submersible pumps



Feb. 18, 1969 s ENGLESfiON SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS Filed Sept. 25, 1967 United States Patent York Filed Sept. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 684,881 US. Cl. 103-87 Int. Cl. F04d 13/08; B67d 5/64 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Removable submersible pumps incorporating an outlet port connection conveniently engageable and disengageable with a normally submerged permanent outlet conduit provided with a permanent guide track extending upward to an easily accessible mounting station, at which the removable submersible pump unit is positioned with its outlet port extending laterally toward said guide track; having a flanged guide member protruding from its outlet casing near its outlet port and configured for sliding engagement with the guide track. The pump may be lowered along the guide track into operative mating engagement of the pumps outlet port with the entrance portal of the permanent outlet conduit.

Background of the invention Submersible pumps have long been used for dewatering excavations at construction sites, assuring that water flowing in from springs or from the normal underground water table exposed by such excavations is removed, to facilitate construction operations. Many different sizes of such submersible pumps have been developed and employed for this purpose, and electrically driven submersible pumps employing electric motors operating within a sealed chamber in an entrapped body of air have proved highly effective in continuous underwater operation.

3,234,885 of the present inventor describe two configurations of submersible pumps which are suitable for installation directly in reservoir for submerged operation therein, and these submersible pumps are both provided with lifting means for raising and withdrawing the pumps from their operative positions submerged in the reservoir, with guide tracks installed near permanent outlet conduit portals in these reservoirs, and with guide means extending outwardly from the casing of the pump unit itself into engagement with such guide tracks, whereby downward lowering movement of the pump casing with its guide means sliding along the guide track, ultimately brings the pump to a lowermost position in Which its outlet port is juxtaposed to and engaged with the permanent outlet conduit portal.

Summary of the invention Such prior devices have operated with considerable efiectiveness, but it has now been discovered that even more eflective operation may be achieved and more accurate alignment of the descending submersible pump outlet port may be produced when the guide means en- 3,427,982 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 gaging the guide track protrudes directly from the outlet port region of the pumps outlet casing, which is generally formed in a volute configuration terminating in an open outlet port.

The guide track and the flange member extending from the pump outlet port casing into engagement therewith are so configured that at the end of its downward travel the pump moves automatically into operative engagement with the portal of the permanent outlet conduit. The tolerances between the guide track and the guide means provide freedom for rocking movement in a vertical plane parallel to the guide track about the conduit portal, to permit the pump to guide itself into operative seated engagement with the portal and being urged thereagainst by the weight of the pump, producing a seating torque in said vertical plane. However, the configuration of guide and guide track substantially restricts the freedom of lateral yawing movement of the pump in any direction transverse to the axis of the guide track, thereby assuring approach of the pump outlet port toward the conduit portal in an optimum approach attitude, avoiding scraping, nicking, chipping or interference therebetween and resulting in operative seated engagement.

Accordingly a principal object of the present invention is to provide removable submersible pump and guide track assemblies atfording convenient disengagement, removal, replacement and reengagement of the pump with a permanent outlet portal merely by raising and lowering of the submersible pump unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide such submersible pump assemblies incorporating guide means extending from the outlet port casing of the submersible pump into operative sliding engagement with a guide track positioned adjacent to the permanent outlet conduit portal.

A further object of the invention is to provide such submersible pump assemblies in which the guide track and cooperative guide means are configured for interfitting engagement in a manner minimizing lateral movement of the pump outlet portal in directions perpendicular to the axis of the guide track in order to assure the approach of the pump outlet port toward the permanent outlet conduit portal in the optimum approach attitude avoiding scraping, chipping, nicking or interference therebetween and assuring firm seated mating contact.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings.

The figures FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a submersible pump assembly incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, partially in section, showing the submersible pump assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation view of a portion of the submersible pump assembly shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, taken along the line 3--3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a corresponding sectional side elevation view of a similar portion of a submersible pump assembly incorporating a different embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a corresponding sectional side elevation view of a similar portion of a further modified embodiment of the invention.

In the submersible pump assembly 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1, two separable sub-assemblies are shown. The first of these is a removable and replacable pump unit 11, and the second is a permanent outlet conduit 21. The pump unit 11 includes a pump casing 12 surrounding and enclosing a sealed pump and electric drive motor combination not shown in the figures. Casing 12 surmounts a volute outlet casing 13 surrounding the enlarged lower periphery of the assembled pump unit 11, and casing 13 surrounds a central lower inlet portal 14 not shown in the figures. Outlet casing 13 terminates in an outlet port 16 surrounded by a port flange 17, configured and dimensioned for juxtaposed abutting engagement with a mating portal flange 18 surrounding a portal 19 forming the entrance of the stationary outlet conduit 21, which is also provided with a guide track 22 anchored near portal flange 18 and extending upward to a point substantially spaced above the portal flange, preferably above the surface of the fluid in which the submersible pump is designed to operate. The outlet conduit 21 and the guide track 22 are assembled permanently together in fixed, stationary relationship within the fluid reservoir in which the submersible pump unit 11 is designed to operate, and both the conduit 21 and the guide track 22 are positioned and supported on a common base plate 23.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the guide track 22 is formed of a pair of substantially parallel metal pipes, as best shown in FIGURE 2, and these pipes are substantially spaced apart flanking the portal flange 18, with one pipe 22 positioned closely adjacent to each lateral edge of the portal flange 18.

The lower ends of the pipes 22 are respectively seated on upwardly extending tapered bosses 24 formed at the corners of the base plate 23 and likewise respectively flanking the portal flange 18. The upper ends of the pipes 22 are supported in similar downwardly extending tapered plugs or bosses 26 spaced apart substantially the same distance as are the bosses 24 and supported in this spaced relationship by a bracket 27 secured to their outside peripheral surfaces and adapted for mounting on a permanent supporting structure, not shown, near the top of a fluid reservoir in which the submersible pump assembly is designed to operate. Bracket 27 is preferably mounted directly above the bosses 24 of base plate 23 so that the track pipes 22 are substantially vertical, although the pipes 22 may be slanted along an inclined axis if desired.

Secured on the outlet port end of the volute outlet casing 13, closely juxtaposed to the port flange 17, is a guide 28 having a central transverse inverted U-shaped base section 29. The plate-shaped outer edges of this U-shaped base section 29 are positioned and dimensioned to overlie and enclose the two mating flanges 17 and 18. The downwardly extending edge of the base section 29 facing the pump unit 11 forms a port plate 31 shaped to overlie the port flange 17 on the volute outlet casing 13 in close juxtaposition, and bolts 32 are engaged in threaded blind holes 33 in flange 17 to anchor port plate 31 to the casing side of port flange 17, as shown in FIG- URE 1. A portal plate 34 is spaced from port plate 31 in a direction away from the pump unit 11, forming the other depending edge plate of the U-shaped base section 29, and is positioned and dimensioned to extend behind the remote upper face of portal flange 18. Port plate 31 and portal plate 34 embrace between themselves the two juxtaposed flanges, portal flange 17 and portal flange 18, all as shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 5, when the pump unit 11 is installed in engagement with the outlet conduit 21.

The U-shaped base section 29 of guide 28 extends laterally On both sides of portal flange 18 to terminate in a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical guide sleeves 36 positioned and dimensioned for loose sliding engagement between the substantially parallel pipes 22 forming the upwardly extending guide track. As shown in FIG- URE 2, the guide sleeves 36 embrace only the facing surfaces of pipes 22 leaving the outer surfaces of the pipes 22 exposed.

The radius of curvature of the concave internal guide surfaces of sleeves 36 is preferably slightly greater than the radius of pipes 22, and the resulting loose sliding engagement of the semi-cylindrical guide sleeves 36 with the pipes 22 is preferred in order to permit a slight amount of relative tilting or rocking movement of the pump unit 11 in a vertical plane parallel to the axes of the pipes 22 forming the guide track. The leeway for slight pivoting or rocking movement of the pump unit 11 relative to the guide track 22 permits the pump unit 11 to be lowered with its guide 28 engaging the guide track 22 while the pump unit 11 descends in a slightly tilted attitude with its central axis slanting one or two degrees toward the axis of guide track 22. This slightly tilted approach attitude for the pump unit 11 brings portal flange 17 into juxtaposition with portal flange 18 with their respective upper edges reaching abutting engagement before their respective lower edges touch, thus avoiding scraping, cracking, chipping or impact of the lower edge of port flange 17 on the face of portal flange 18 during the final stage of the descent of pump unit 11 along guide track 22 toward the seated, juxtaposed operating position shown in FIGURE 1, in which the port plate 31 and portal plate 34 forming the opposite depending edges of the U-shaped base section 29 embrace and serve to secure the respective upper edges of the port flange 17 and portal flange 18 in closely abutting juxtaposed relationship.

While the space provided between the pipes 22 and the semi-cylindrical guide sleeves 36 leaves room for this slight rocking or tilting movement of the pump unit 11 in a vertical plane, the relatively wide spacing of the two pipes 22 forming the guide track, separated by the full width of the portal flange 18, provides a substantial moment arm between the lines of action of the forces forming a horizontal couple exerted by the two pipes 22 upon the guide 28 tending to resist lateral movement of the pump unit 11 in a plane transverse to the axis of the guide track formed by the pipes 22. Accordingly, any lateral pivoting movement or yawing of the pump unit 11 is severely minimized by the assembly of the present invention, thus assuring that the port flange 17 will approach and seat itself upon the portal flange 18 smoothly and evenly without danger of nicking, scratching, chipping or scraping misaligned engagement of these flanges.

Extending downwardly from guide 28 beyond portal plate 34, closely adjacent to the sides of the outlet conduit 21, are guide fingers 37, each having a raked or chamfered lower edge slanting forward and downward away from the extreme lower edge of portal plate 34 in a direction away from pump unit 11 and its port flange 17 formed at the end of its volute outlet casing 13. This raked or charnfered leading edge of each finger 37 is the first surface of guide 28 to touch and move in sliding engagement with the upper edge of portal flange 18 when pump unit 11 is lowered toward conduit 21, and the convergence of this raked leading edge of the fingers 37 at an acute angle with the facing surface of port flange 17 forms a converging guideway into which the upper edge of portal flange 18 slides as the pump unit 11 descends toward its lowermost seated position.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 several different configurations of the port flange 17 and the mating portal flange 18 are well adapted to provide a substantially fluid tight connection between the outlet port 16 of the volute outlet casing 13 and the mating portal 19 of the outlet conduit 21. If desired, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the facing surfaces of the flanges 17 and 18 may be formed on an inclined, slanted plane tilted away from the axis of the pump unit 11. Alternatively, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the facing, engaging surfaces of flanges 17 and 18 may be substantially vertical and substantially parallel to the axis of the pump unit 11. Correspondingly, as shown in FIGURE 3, the port plate 31 and portal plate 34 of the U-shaped base section 29 of guide 28 may be inclined to form between themselves an acute angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of the facing flanges 17 and 18. On the other hand when substantially vertical facing flanges 17 and 18 are employed, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the plates 31 and 34 may also be substantially parallel and the raked leading edge of the guide fingers 37 provides the necessary guiding positioning of the flanges 17 and 18 as they approach engagement.

To assure that the lower edge of port flange 17 will clear the upper edge of portal flange 18 during the final descent of pump unit 11, it is often preferable, as indicated in dashed lines in FIGURE 4, to bring port flange 17 toward portal flange 18 in an approach attitude with their engaging surfaces forming a downwardly opening acute angle therebetween, which assures that the respective facing upper edges of flanges 17 and 18 reach engagement before their lower edges touch or scrape together.

The substantial weight of pump unit 11 in its lowermost engaged position is supported entirely by the guide 28 with its portal plate 34 serving as a hook engaging the remote surface of portal flange 18 on outlet conduit 21. As a result, substantially all of the weight of pump unit 11 is applied as a substantially normal load by the port flange 17 of its volute outlet casing 13 against the mating portal flange 18, and this normal force holds the pump unit 11 in its engaged position, tending to resist any escape of the pump outlet pressure from the continuous outlet passage formed by the outlet casing 13 joined through the port 16 and portal 19 to the outlet conduit 21. However, in certain instances, as when pump unit 11 is a lightweight pump, it may be preferable to provide a ring-shaped sealing recess 38 in the face of one of the flanges 17 or 18 in which a flexible sealing gasket such as an O-ring is held to provide a resilient seal between the facing flanges 17 and 18 as indicated in FIGURE 4. Alternatively, as indicated in FIGURE 5, this resilient seal may be omitted if desired.

It will thus be seen that the guide 28 provides a completely disconnectable, non-bolted pump flange connection between pump 11 and conduit 21 permitting the raising of the pump along the guide track pipes 22 for con venient inspection and maintenance whenever desired, using such lifting means as the chain bridle 39 secured to pump casing 12, and which may be connected to manual or automatic hoisting means. By placing the submersible pump unit 11 directly in the fluid reservoir, the need for separate dry Well excavations and installations is completely eliminated. Avoiding separate dry well excavations permits very substantial cost savings in the construction of sewage treatment plants and similar fluid handling installations, since separate stairs, ladders, lights, blowers, dehumidifiers, and auxiliary equipment may all be dispensed with. A further advantage of the operation of the submersible pump unit 11 beneath the surface of the body of fluid to be pumped is the very substantial cooling effect of this body of fluid. The pump-and-motor casing 12 is surrounded by the fluid itself, whose circulating motion in the vicinity of the casing 12 is impelled by the operation of the pump drawing fluid into the inlet portal 14 beneath the pump unit 11, and thus causing sufficient fluid movement to provide excellent cooling and withdrawal of heat from the pump easing into the surrounding fluid, maintaining the operating temperature of the pump unit 11 well within safe limits.

The unique design of the guide 28 protruding directly from the outlet casing 13 immediately adjacent to outlet port flange 17 provides loose, low-friction sliding traverse of pump unit 11 while still assuring firm, positive guiding, approach and seating of flange 17 against portal flange 18. The remotely spaced terminal guide sleeves 36 embracing the spaced apart substantially parallel pipes forming the guide track 22, with the space between the guide sleeves 36 bridged by the U-shaped base section 29 assures optimum alignment of the port flange 17 as it approaches portal flange 18 in the desired engagement attitude. Where desired, this proper approach attitude of the port flange 17 as it nears the portal flange 18 is further assured by the action of raked guide fingers 37 engaging the remote side of the upper edge of portal flange 18.

While the objects of the invention are efliciently achieved by the preferred forms of the invention described in the foregoing specification, the invention also includes changes and variations falling within and between the definitions of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A submersible pump assembly comprising:

(a) a stationary outlet conduit positioned in a fluid reservoir and having an entrance portal surrounded by a portal flange,

(b) a guide track having a lower end anchored to the outlet conduit near the portal flange and provided with guide surfaces flanking the portal flange and extending upwardly therefrom toward the free surface of fluid in the reservoir,

(c) a removable submersible pump unit including a submersible casing having a pump and motor operatively positioned therein (1) having an inlet portal formed at a lower end thereof,

(2) an outlet casing provided with an outlet port opening outwardly therefrom and surrounded by a port flange,

(d) and a guide integrally mounted on the outlet casing overlying the outlet port and port flange with a depending portal plate removably engageable behind the portal flange of the outlet conduit, and provided with mating guide surfaces engageable with the guide surfaces of the guide track for sliding engagement of tlhe guide upward and downward along the guide trac permitting the submersible pump unit to be lowered with its guide in sliding engagement with the guide track into a lowermost position in which the port flange is juxtaposed in abutting engagement with the portal flange, providing a continuous outlet passageway extending from the outlet casing through the outlet conduit, and also permitting the pump unit to be raised, disengaging the portal plate from behind the portal flange and permitting relative sliding movement of the guide upwardly along the guide track to withdraw the pump unit from the fluid reservolr.

2. The pump assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the guide is provided with raked guide fingers extending downward from the portal plate engaging the remote edge of the portal flange and guiding the portal plate behind the portal flange as the pump unit approaches the outlet conduit.

3. The pump assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the guide track has an upper end extending upwardly and anchored in permanent position above the free surface of fluid in the reservoir.

4. The pump assembly defined in claim 3, wherein the guide track is formed by a pair of substantially parallel pipes.

5. The pump assembly defined in claim 4, wherein the pipes are substantially spaced apart to stabilize the guide and the pump unit against lateral movement.

6. The pump assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the guide is dimensioned for loose sliding engagement with the guide track permitting rocking movement of the pump unit toward and away from the guide track.

7. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein during its approach toward the outlet conduit the pump unit is supported in a slightly tilted attitude, with the port flange and portal flange forming between themselves a downwardly-opening acute angle.

8. The pump assembly defined in claim 7, including means forming a resiliently deformable sealing ring op- 7 eratively positioned between the port flange and the portal flange.

9. The pump assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the engaging surface of the port flange, the portal flange and the portal plate are all substantially vertical and parallel.

10. The pump assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the engaging surfaces of the port flange and the portal flange are tilted at an angle relative to the axis of the guide track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1962 Englesson 103-87 6/1964 Bood .10387 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222180 

